Hi, I’m Michael and I am a furniture maker and woodworker and I make things. Things mostly from wood. In 2001 I studied at Selkirk College, which has one of Canada’s leading programs in fine furniture making. Their program stressed traditional techniques, techniques that have been employed and perfected over hundreds of years to ensure that what we build can last for future generations to enjoy.
What can I make? The gallery shows a small selection of pieces I have built over the years but it is by no means comprehensive. If you’re wondering if I can make something the answer is more than likely yes.
“How much does something cost?”. Unfortunately, my answer to this is usually “How long is a piece of string?”, which can be as annoying as it is helpful but almost everything I make is one of a kind and therefore each price is different too. But don’t worry, if you would like me to build you something I will meet with you, discuss the work, decide on a design and you will get a price before I start. And that part is free.
“Isn’t handcrafted furniture expensive?”. No, not really. Yes, even a simple piece will require many hours of skilled labour to build and finish but all that time goes into your piece. With a mass-produced piece there could be the factory, the shipper, a middleman and then the retail outlet, each one with profit and markup. Often my price will be less than you would pay in a store and much better quality. I can customize size, wood and construction so you are getting a one-of-a-kind piece that is exactly what you want, not just what is in stock.